From 'Gypsy' to 'Marilyn,' Stoneham Theatre promises eventful season

Seasons come and seasons go, but the powers that be at Stoneham Theatre believe the 2007-08 lineup will be one for the ages. But getting to this point certainly didn’t happen overnight.

By Jesse Kawa

Seasons come and seasons go, but the powers that be at Stoneham Theatre believe the 2007-08 lineup will be one for the ages.

But getting to this point certainly didn’t happen overnight.

Artistic Director Weylin Symes has spent countless hours over the past year, combing the Internet, reading scripts and attending shows throughout the country — all in an effort to bring the best of the best to Stoneham. He said while it was a lot of work, it was well worth it to present this diverse roster of productions to the audience. (See full schedule, below.)

“One of our major goals in the theater is to do a wide range,” said Symes. “We want to bring something different with every show. We like to spice up our schedule a bit.”

“Gypsy,” an American musical about a wildly determined stage mother that tries desperately to make her daughters into famous vaudeville performers, will kick off the 2007-08 season on Sept. 13.

“We’re working on the show already,” said Symes, adding “Gypsy” is one of the theater’s bigger shows. “It’s a great big, old fashioned musical.”

Stoneham Theatre will follow up “Gypsy’s” run with the New England premiere of “Marilyn: Forever Blonde,” a show that chronicles the life and career of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.

Symes said the great thing about this production is that all of the lines featured were taken directly from Monroe herself, through diaries, memories and interviews. He said although “Forever Blonde” isn’t set to take the stage for a couple months, he’s already heard from several Monroe fans that plan to attend each of the performances at Stoneham Theatre.

“We’re excited to bring it to Boston for the first time,” said Symes. “They’re things she actually said. It makes for an interesting experience to sit through.”

“Marilyn: Forever Blonde” will run Oct. 25 through Nov. 11.

The first half of the season will culminate with the theater’s annual holiday production but this year will feature “Miracle On 34th Street,” instead of the cult classic “A Christmas Story,” which the theater has performed the past two years.

“It’s a heartwarming family story around the holidays,” added Symes.

Perpetual planning

Preparation for an upcoming season at Stoneham Theatre is a huge undertaking, especially since work on it begins well into the current season. Juggling both at the same time can be a challenge.

Symes said planning for the new season usually starts around October or November of the year before it debuts. He said many of the shows included in the lineup are a given, as the theater always does a couple musicals as well as the holiday production each year, while others he needs to go out and search for.

Symes said and while he is the one responsible for researching the various shows, the theater’s production and marketing departments also play a major role in the process. He said they all sit down to hash out the details and figure out what will work best for the theater.

Symes said it is a lengthy process but also one he rather enjoys.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s actually one of the most enjoyable parts of my job.”

Symes added planning is actually a nice break for him, especially when a lot of his day is filled up with bureaucratic items like contracts.

Beyond this, Symes will also direct three of the theater’s eight productions, “Miracle on 34th Street, “Antoine Feval” and “The Cutting.”

Symes said with the season opening so close, he and others around the theater are really getting excited. He said this year’s lineup is packed with so many different types of performances including stand-up, a big Broadway musical and a mystery — many of which are not offered elsewhere.

Symes said the fact area residents can come to Stoneham Theatre and see something no other theaters carry is awesome.

“We do some shows you just can’t see elsewhere,” he said. “You’re going to see it in Stoneham and nowhere else. How cool is that?”

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